Colossians 3:17

whatsoever ye do See below Colossians 3:23 for the same phrase; and for similar precepts of holy absoluteness cp. Proverbs 3:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31. The Christian life is nothing less than the whole life of the Christian, lived "unto the Lord" (Romans 14:6-8); everything in it is related to Him.

in the name of the Lord Jesus As it were quotingHim (to yourselves, and if need be to other men) as the Master (" Lord") who sets the task and owns and uses the servant. On another reference of the same phrase see our note on Ephesians 5:20.

giving thanks "always for all things," adds Ephesians 5:20. The two parallels complement each other; the one Epistle more specially bids the Christian do God's will, the other more specially bids Him love God's will, and give thanks for it, in everything.

and the Father "And" should probably be omitted.

by Him The Mediator of our thanks, as of the Father's gifts. Cp. Romans 1:8; Romans 16:27; Heb 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 4:11.

"O God," says Quesnel on this verse, "who is a Christian, if all our words and actions are to be a sacrifice of praise, offered to God through Jesus Christ as our Priest, Pontiff, Mediator; with Him as God's true Victim; in Him as God's Temple; on Him as God's Altar; after Him as our Law and Model; under Him as our Master and King; in His spirit, purposes, motives, disposition, aim, as He is our Head?"